When it comes to accessible eLearning, tab order is one of those features that’s absolutely critical—and frequently misunderstood. If learners rely on a keyboard or assistive technology to navigate your course, the tab order determines the sequence in which interactive objects receive focus. If that order is wrong, the learner experience quickly breaks down.
In Adobe Captivate, tab order controls how buttons, click boxes, text entry fields, and other interactive elements are accessed when learners press the Tab key. Captivate does a reasonable job assigning a default order, but that order is not always logical—especially on complex slides or slides imported from PowerPoint. Reviewing and adjusting tab order is therefore an essential step in building accessible, professional-quality courses.
In this post, I focus on helping you understand what tab order is, why it matters, and how to approach it thoughtfully so learners experience your content in the intended sequence.
Watch the Video: Adobe Captivate Tab Order Explained
I’ve created a short video that walks through tab order in Captivate and explains what you need to know to manage it effectively. If you’ve ever wondered why certain objects appear inaccessible—or why keyboard navigation feels “off”—this video will help clarify what’s going on behind the scenes.
👉 Watch the video on YouTube:
Why Tab Order Matters
Accessibility isn’t just about checking a compliance box. It’s about making sure all learners can successfully complete your course. A logical tab order helps learners:
- Navigate interactive content efficiently
- Understand the intended flow of information
- Avoid confusion and frustration when using a keyboard or screen reader
Ignoring tab order can result in skipped objects, confusing navigation, or interactions being accessed in an order that makes no instructional sense.
Need Help with Adobe Captivate?
If you’d like to go deeper than a single video or blog post, I offer live, instructor-led Adobe Captivate training for individuals and teams. My training is hands-on, project-based, and tailored to your real-world content—not canned examples.
Whether you’re focused on accessibility, interactivity, or building better Captivate projects overall, I’ll help you get there faster and with fewer headaches.
👉 Learn more about my Adobe Captivate training at IconLogic:
https://www.iconlogic.com/adobe-captivate-training.html
As always, my goal is to help you build better, more accessible eLearning—without guessing, workarounds, or wasted time.